Package construction

ABSTRACT

A package construction is provided which is adapted, when desired, to be adjusted so as to be self-supporting. The package includes a pair of panels arranged in face-to-face relation, and a third panel foldably secured to one panel of the pair. The third panel, when in one position of folded adjustment, being disposed transversely of said pair of panels and having portions thereof projecting forwardly and rearwardly. The other panel of said pair of panels is provided with an elongated strut which overlies a portion of the third panel, when in an unfolded position, and automatically assumes angular, abutting relation with a projecting portion of the third panel when the latter is disposed in a folded position.

United States Patent Diehl [451 Aug. 22, 1972 ['54] PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION 1,616,707 2/1927 Tanner ..206/45.26 X

72 Inventor: Phili A. Diehl St. Lo M l p ms 0 Primary ExaminerGeorge E. Lowrance Asslgneei Packaging corporatlon of America Att0mey-Pendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson Evanston, Ill. 22 Filed: Sept. 10, 1970 1 ABSTRACT 21 L 70,93 A package construction is provided which is adapted,

when desired, to be ad usted so as to be self-supporting. The package includes a pair of panels arranged in [52] US. Cl. ..206/78 B, 206/4524 f relation, and a third panel foldably [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d5/52, B65d 73/00 Secured to one panel of the pair. The third panel, [58] Field of Search ..206/45.2445.273 when in one position of folded adjustment, being 206/78 78 80 80 disposed transversely of said pair of panels and having 248/152 portions thereof projecting forwardly and rearwardly. The other panel of said pair of panels is provided with [56] References Cited an elongated strut which overlies a portion of the third UNITED STATES PATENTS panel, when in an unfolded position, and autornatically assumes angular, abutting relation with a project- 3,429,45l 2/1969 Samsing ..206/78 B X ing portion of the third panel when the latter is 3,241,660 3/ 1966 Cathcart, Jr. et a]. ..206/45.14 disposed in a folded position 3,203,542 8/1965 Lightner ..206/78 B UX 3,407,928 10/1968 Watts, Jr. et a1, ...206/45.24 X 13 Claim, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEM 3.685.649

sum 2 or 3 jza JZ'Z PATENTEUMIE ZI 3685.649

' SHEET 3 [IF 3 PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Certain products or articles (e.g., cosmetics etc.) by their very nature, because of their size and shape, and the manner in which they are merchandised, are oftentimes required to be packaged in a particular way. In self-service type of merchandising it is important that the packaged article have eye-appeal, that the package be capable of being self-supporting and remain stable while so disposed, and that the package be substantially tamper-proof. In addition to these aforementioned attributes, it is important that the package be of simple, inexpensive construction and be capable of being readily loaded and set up either manually or by automatic high speed packaging equipment.

Various packages of this general type have heretofore been proposed; however, because of certain design characteristics, they have been beset with one or more shortcomings thereby rendering the packages incapable of meeting the aforesaid requisites.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a package which successfully meets the requisites aforenoted.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a package which is capable of accommodating a wide variety of products.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a package which is capable of assuming a self-supporting condition by the exercise of a simple manual'manipulation.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a package which is capable of being suspended from a hook or rod, or supporting itself in an upright position, or being laid in a prone position on a shelf or counter area.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a package wherein the accommodated article may be readily observed without first being removed from the package or requiring mutilation of the latter.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an improved package is provided which includes first and second panels secured to one another in faceto-face relation. The article being packaged is accommodated by one of the panels. A third panel is also provided which is foldably connected to the first panel and, when in an unfolded state, is disposed in a substantially coplanar relation with respect to the first panel whereby portions of the third panel are overlaid by adjustable struts formed in the second panel. When the third panel is folded relative to the first and second panels so as to render the package self-supporting, the portions of the third panel previously overlaid by the struts, assume transversely projecting positions relative to the first and second panels and are in substantial abutting relation with respect to the ends of the struts formed in said second panel.

DESCRIPTION For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a blank used in forming one embodiment of the improved package.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 in a partially folded condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the improved package forrned from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the improved package of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective front and rear views of the package of FIG. 4 shown in a self-supporting condition.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary right side elevational view of the package of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but showing the package manipulated into a self-supporting condition.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form of blank.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 5, but showing a modified embodiment of the improved package formed from the blank of Fig. 9.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective front and rear views of a second modified package shown in a self-supporting condition.

FIG. 13 is a right end elevational view of the package of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 14 and. 15 are perspective front and rear views of a third modified package shown in a self-supporting condition.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 1616 of FIG. 14.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 3-8, one embodiment 10 of the improved package is shown. The illustrated package includes an article, A which may be one of a variety of products such as cosmetics, medical goods, fasteners, etc. The article is secured to a backing 11 which is formed of paperboard and the like and comprises front and back panels 12 and 13, respectively, which are secured by adhesive, staples, or the like in face-to-face relation. The panels 12 and 13 are preferably interconnected to one another by an elongated foldline 14. The foldline 14 defines the upper edge of the backing 11, when the package is formed.

The back panel 13 has formed therein along opposite side peripheral segments, elongated struts 15 and 16. Each strut has the inner side thereof defined by an elongated cut 17 which extends from the lower peripheral segment 18 of panel 13 in a direction towards foldline 14, but terminates short of the foldline. As seen in FIG. 1, the lower or free end 15a or 16a of each strut extends a slight distance beyond the corresponding edge of the section 13a of the panel 13 disposed intermediate the struts. When the package 10 is not manipulated into a self-supporting position, as seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the struts 15 and 16 are in substantially coplanar relation with the remainder of panel 13, see FIGS. 3 and 7. The upper end 15b or 16b of each strut is made integral with the panel 13. Thus, by reason of the inherent fight-back of the paperboard from which panel 13 is made, the struts have a tendency to remain in said coplanar position.

Front panel 12, in the illustrated embodiment 10, is provided with an enlarged opening 20 through which the accommodated article A is adapted to extend when the package 10 is formed. The shape and size of the opening 20 will depend upon the shape and size of the particular article. In certain instances the article might be secured directly to the front panel by adhesive, stapling or the like or in some instances, the article might be attached to the front panel by a heat shrink film which would envelop the article and the panel. This latter means of securing the article is generally known in the packaging industry as the skin-pack" method.

In the illustrated embodiment of the improved package, the opening of panel 12 is overlaid on the backside or concealed surface of the panel by a section 21 of thin transparent plastic film. The peripheral portion 21a of the section is bonded to the portion of the panel circumjacent the opening 20. The central portion 21b of the section 21 is preformed so as to form a pocket which is adapted to accommodate the article.

Secured by foldline 22 to the lower edge of front panel 12 is a base panel 23. Panel 23, as seen in the blank 24, shown in FIG. 1, from which the backing 11 is formed, comprises a first section 23a connected to panel 12 by foldline 22 and a second section 23b connected by foldline to the opposite edge of section 23a. Second section 23b has the side thereof opposite foldline 25 provided with a pair of projecting ear portions 26 and 27. The spacing 28 formed between the ear portions is greater than the width of the opening 20 formed in panel 12. As noted in FIG. 1, portions I and II of the blank 24 may be coated with adhesive so as to facilitate forming of the package.

In FIG. 2, it will be noted, that either before or subsequent to the article A being deposited in the pocket 21b formed in the film section 21, the second section 23b of the base panel 23 is folded about foldline 25 so that it overlies the first section 23a of the panel 23. Because of the disposition of the ear portions 26 and 27 and the pattern of the adhesive II applied to second section 23b of panel 23, the ear portions will overlie portions of the first panel 12, but will not be adhesively secured thereto.

Subsequent to the base panel sections being folded as indicated, the second panel 13 is folded relative to the first panel 12 about foldline 14, whereupon by reason of adhesive pattern I on panel, the struts 15 and 16 will not be affixed to either panel 12 or the ear portions 26 and 27 which are overlaid thereby. When the panels 12 and 13 have been secured to one another in face-toface relation, section 130 of the panel 13 overlies the open side of pocket 21b and securely holds the article A within the pocket.

As seen in FIGS. 1-6, both the front and back panels 12 and 13 are provided with a small opening 30 which is adapted to be in coincident relation with the other opening, when the blank is set up. The size and location of the openings 30 are such as to provide means whereby the package 10 may be readily suspended from a hook or rod, not shown. The utilization of hooks and/or rods for displaying merchandise on counters and the like has become a common practice in many retailing operations. Because the base panel 23, when in a non-folded condition is disposed in a substantially coplanar relation with respect to the panels 12 and 13, it does not interfere with the hanging of a plurality of the packages on such a hook or rod.

While suspending the package from a hook or rod might be desirable in some instances, there are frequent occasions when it is more desirable for the package 10 to be self-supporting, that is to say, it will stand upright by itself when placed on a horizontally disposed surface, see FIG. 8. The improved package 10 has versatility in this regard.

Thus, to render package 10 to be self-supporting merely requires a very simple manipulation; namely, folding the base panel 23 to a substantially right angle position with respect to panels 12 and 13. When panel 23 has been so folded, section 23a and the portion of section 23b affixed thereto will project forwardly of the exposed surface of the front panel 12, see FIG. 5, and the ear portions 26 and 27 of the section 23b will extend rearwardly, see FIGS. 6 and 8. As the base panel 23 is folded into the position shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the ear portions 26 and 27 will automatically cam the overlying struts 15 and 16 outwardly until the ends 15a and 16a of the struts clear the ends of the ear portions whereupon the struts will spring back until they frictionally engage the upper surfaces of the ear portions, see FIGS. 6 and 8. With the struts so disposed, they retain the base panel in its folded position. As aforenoted, the inherent fight-back of the paperboard utilized in making the blank 24, holds the end portions of the struts in substantial abutting relation with the upper surface of the ear portions. The su'uts and ear portions will remain in this relation until the struts are flexed outwardly so that the ear portions will clear the strut ends and permit the ear portions to return to their substantially coplanar relation with respect to panel 13, see FIGS. 3 and 7.

FIG. 10 shows a modified form 110 of the improved package which is similar in construction to package 10 except that base panel 123 has a different configuration. Where possible, corresponding portions of package will be given numbers similar to those utilized in describing package 10, except such numbers will be in the 100 series.

In the modified blank 124, shown in FIG. 9 and from which the backing 111 of package is formed, the base panel 123 has but a single section 123a. The section 1230 is connected by foldline 122 to the lower edge of the front panel 112. The opposite ends of the foldline 122 terminate at ear portions 126 and 127 which are cut out from the lower portion of panel 112. Thus, with modified blank 124, the amount of material utilized in forming same is reduced and one of the gluing operations is eliminated, thereby lessening the overall cost of the package. As in the case of package 10, the manner in which the article A is secured to the backing 111 may vary from that shown without effecting the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate a second modified package 210 wherein a single strut 209 is formed in the back panel 213 of the backing 211. In lieu of an opening being formed in the front panel 212 through which the article A would project, the exposed surface of the panel 212 and the article positioned thereon may be overlaid by a heat shrink film F. The film is bonded to the exposed surface of the panel. In place of a heat shrink film, the article may be adhesively secured to the exposed surface of the front panel 212.

The portion 223b of the base panel 223 which projects rearwardly from the pair of panels 212 and 213 is not, in the illustrated embodiment, provided with any car portions as shown in the previously described package 10. In package 210, the portions 215 and 216 of the back panels, which are disposed on opposite sides of strut 209, are adhesively secured to the concealed surface of the front panel. In addition, the por tion of the back panel disposed above the strut 209 is also adhesively secured to the concealed surface of the front panel 212.

FIGS. 14-16 illustrate a third modified package 310 wherein the accommodated article A has portions thereof exposed at both the front and back of the backing 311. To permit such exposure, the front and rear panels 312 and 313 are provided with like openings 320 which are disposed in coincident relation and are shaped so as to permit the article to pass therethrough. It is preferred that the openings 320 be spaced upwardly from the foldline 322 which connects front panel 312 with base panel portion 323a.

To retain the article in assembled relation with the backing 311, it is preferred that the article A be encased in a suitable envelope E of transparent plastic material. Marginal portions M of the envelope form a laterally extending flange, which is sandwiched between the panels 312 and 313, the latter being bonded in face-to-face relation, see FIG. 16.

While the various improved packages have been described as having backings formed or paperboard, it is to be understood, of course, that such backings may be formed of corrugated fiberboard, sheets of plastic, etc. Furthermore, more than one article may be secured to a given backing.

Thus, it will be seen that a versatile, inexpensive, attractive, and sturdy package has been provided. The backing blanks for the improved package may be formed on conventional high speed cutter-scoring and gluing equipment. Furthermore, the loading and setting up of the improved package may be readily accomplished by automatic or semi-automatic equipment.

I claim:

1. A blank of foldable sheet material for use in forming a self-supporting package, comprising first and second panels interconnected by an elongated first foldline, a base panel connected to said first panel by an elongated second foldline spaced from said first foldline, said base panel being provided with an elongated ear portion projecting angularly of said second foldline; said second panel being provided with an elongated strut struckout from said second panel and in alignment with said ear portion, said strut having an end thereof terminating adjacent to but beyond an edge of said second panel opposite the edge thereof connected to said first panel.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein the ear portion of said base panel projects from the edge of said base panel which is opposite the edge thereof connected to said first panel.

3. The blank of claim 1 wherein the ear portion of said base panel is struckout from said first panel.

4. The blank of claim 1 wherein said base panel in- 60 cludes a pair of laterally spaced ear portions, and said first panel is provided with an article-accommodating opening disposed intermediate said ear portions when said blank is set up to form a package.

5. A package construction comprising a first panel; a

sec md pagel secured thereto face-to-face relation, sar

secon panel being providcgl with at least one e ongated resilient strut having one end thereof integral with said second panel and an opposite end thereof free and terminating at a peripheral portion of said first panel, said strut being movable independently of said first panel; an article secured to one of said panels; and a base panel foldably connected to the peripheral portion of said first panel; said base panel, when in a nonfolded position, having a predetermined portion thereof disposed in substantially coplanar relation with said first panel and a segment of said base panel overlaid by said strut opposite end; said base panel, when in a folded position, rendering said package self-supporting and offsetting the portion of said strut adjacent said opposite end outwardly from said first panel into substantially transverse resiliently abutting engagement with said base panel and retaining the latter in said folded position.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein said first panel is provided with an opening through which a portion of the article projects.

7. The package of claim 6 including a member disposed within said first panel opening and provided with a pocket in which said article is positioned, one side of said pocket member being closed by said second panel.

8. The package of claim 5 wherein a second peripheral portion of said first panel is foldably connected to said second panel.

9. The package of claim 5 wherein said base panel, when in folded position, extends outwardly from opposite sides of said first panel.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein the said opposite end of said strut is automatically carnmed outwardly from said first panel by said base panel segment upon said base panel being manipulated from nonfolded to folded positions.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein all of said base panel is in coplanar relation with said first panel when the latter is in said nonfolded position; said base panel segment being struckout from said first panel and said strut being struckout from said second panel, when said base panel is manipulated to said folded position.

12. The package of claim 9, wherein the second panel is provided with a pair of spaced, substantially parallel struts, and said base panel is provided with a pair of laterally spaced ear portions overlaid by said struts when said base panel is in a nonfolded position.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein the ear portions of said base panel extend outwardly from one side of said first panel and the remainder of said base panel extends outwardly from the opposite side of said first panel, when said base panel is in a folded position; said remainder of said base panel being of greater thickness than said ear portions. 

1. A blank of foldable sheet material for use in forming a selfsupporting package, comprising first and second panels interconnected by an elongated first foldline, a base panel connected to said first panel by an elongated second foldline spaced from said first foldline, said base panel being provided with an elongated ear portion projecting angularly of said second foldline; said second panel being provided with an elongated strut struckout from said second panel and in alignment with said ear portion, said strut having an end thereof terminating adjacent to but beyond an edge of said second panel opposite the edge thereof connected to said first panel.
 2. The blank of claim 1, wherein the ear portion of said base panel projects from the edge of said base panel which is opposite the edge thereof connected to said first panel.
 3. The blank of claim 1, wherein the ear portion of said base panel is struckout from said first panel.
 4. The blank of claim 1, wherein said base panel includes a pair of laterally spaced ear portions, and said first panel is provided with an article-accommodating opening disposed intermediate said ear portions when said blank is set up to form a package.
 5. A package construction comprising a first panel; a second panel secured thereto in face-to-face relation, said second panel being provided with at least one elongated resilient strut having one end thereof integral with said second panel and an opposite end thereof free and terminating at a peripheral portion of said first panel, said strut being movable independently of said first panel; an article secured to one of said panels; and a base panel foldably connected to the peripheral portion of said first panel; said base panel, when in a nonfolded position, having a predetermined portion thereof disposed in substantially coplanar relation with said first panel and a segment of said base panel overlaid by said strut opposite end; said base panel, when in a folded position, rendering said package self-supporting and offsetting the portion of said strut adjacent said opposite end outwardly from said first panel into substantially transverse resiliently abutting engagement with said base panel and retaining the latter in said folded position.
 6. The package of claim 5, wherein said first panel is provided with an opening through which a portion of the article projects.
 7. The package of claim 6, including a member disposed within said first panel opening and provided with a pocket in which said article is positioned, one side of said pocket member being closed by said second panel.
 8. The package of claim 5, wherein a second peripheral portion of said first panel is foldably connected to said second panel.
 9. The package of claim 5, wherein said base panel, when in folded position, extends outwardly from opposite sides of said first panel.
 10. The package of claim 9, wherein the said opposite end of said strut is automatically cammed outwardly from said first panel by said base panel segment upon said base panel being manipulated from nonfolded to folded positions.
 11. The package of claim 10, wherein all of said base panel is in coplanar relation with said first panel when the latter is in said nonfolded position; said base panel segment being struckout from said first panel and said strut being struckout from said second panel, when said base panel is manipulated to said folded position.
 12. The package of claim 9, wherein the second panel is provided with a pair of spaced, substantially parallel stRuts, and said base panel is provided with a pair of laterally spaced ear portions overlaid by said struts when said base panel is in a nonfolded position.
 13. The package of claim 12, wherein the ear portions of said base panel extend outwardly from one side of said first panel and the remainder of said base panel extends outwardly from the opposite side of said first panel, when said base panel is in a folded position; said remainder of said base panel being of greater thickness than said ear portions. 